Aaron Dell Named To CHL All Rookie Team

Aaron Dell Named To All Rookie Team - photo by chlphotos.com

CHL All-Rookie Team Announced

CHL Announces 2012-13 All-Rookie Team Thunder's Hanson and Mallards' Hellyer are Unanimous Selections GLENDALE, AZ (March 18, 2013) – The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the six member CHL All-Rookie Team for the 2012-13 season, selected through balloting of CHL head coaches.  The Fort Worth Brahmas earned two spots on the team with forward Sy Nutkevitch and defenseman Daniel Spivak.  Other forward spots went to Wichita’s Greger Hanson and Quad City’s Mike Hellyer and the remaining spot on the blue line is taken by Arizona’s Matt McCready.  Allen’s Aaron Dell earns the spot in goal, the first-year player is also a finalist for the league’s Goaltender of the Year Award and Rookie of the Year Award (along with Hanson, Hellyer and Nutkevitch). 2012-2013 All-Rookie Team F: Greger Hanson, Wichita Thunder F: Mike Hellyer, Quad City Mallards F: Sy Nutkevitch, Fort Worth Brahmas D: Matt McCready, Arizona Sundogs D: Daniel Spivak, Fort Worth Brahmas G: Aaron Dell, Allen Americans Greger Hanson, Forward (Wichita Thunder): Hanson is one of two players to appear on all 10 ballots.  He is fourth among first-year players in scoring with 44 points despite playing the fewest number of games of any player in the top eight in scoring due to injury.  The Lidingo, Sweden native has scored 21 goals with 23 assists and is a +13 on the season.  No rookie has taken more shots than Hanson (200) and his six game winning goals are first among freshman and tied for second among all players.  The 5-10, 185-pound forward is one of five finalists for the CHL Rookie of the Year Award. Mike Hellyer, Forward (Quad City Mallards): Hellyer also appeared on all 10 ballots and is also a finalist for the CHL Rookie of the Year Award.  He leads all first-year players in scoring with 59 points (23-36=59) and has the second highest plus/minus at +14.  The Brandon, Manitoba native has been a consistent scoring threat all season recording 13 points in January and February and 11 points in November and December (he sits with 11 points in March).   Sy Nutkevitch, Forward (Fort Worth Brahmas): Nutkevitch is third among rookies in scoring with 45 points (13-32=45) and is maybe the most dangerous special teams player among the rookie class.  The 6-0, 172-pound forward is tied for third among first-year players with five power play goals and is tied for the lead among all freshmen with nine power play assists.  He is a +16 on the season, highest among all rookies, and has been a key component for the Brahmas who have stayed in the hunt at the top of the conference all season long. Matt McCready, Defenseman (Arizona Sundogs): McCready is the top scoring rookie defenseman in the CHL with 27 points (4-23=27).  The Sundogs acquired McCready in a trade with Missouri in December and in 32 games with Arizona, he has totaled 21 points (3-18=21) and a +2 plus/minus rating.  The Kingsville, Ontario native appeared on half of the ballots.  Daniel Spivak, Defenseman (Fort Worth Brahmas): Also appearing on half of the 10 ballots returned, Spivak earns a spot on the All-Rookie squad.  The Thornhill, Ontario native has three goals and 10 assists in 46 games this season and is a +9 (highest among all d-men on the Brahmas roster).  Out of the line-up since February 9 with an injury, the 6-0, 206-pound d-man had his best offensive month in December where he had two goals, four assists and was a +7. Aaron Dell, Goaltender (Allen Americans): Dell is also a candidate for the CHL’s Most Valuable Player Award and the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award.  The first-year player leads all goalies with a 2.27 goals against average and is second with a .919 save percentage.  His 20 wins are fourth in the league and he has twice been named the CHL Goaltender of the Week and was the CHL Goaltender of the Month for November.  The Airdire, Alberta native is a big reason the Americans have been atop the CHL for most of the season.   The All-CHL Team will be announced later today and the CHL Man of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, March 19.  2012-13 CHL Awards that have already been announced are: CHL Athletic Trainer of the Year – Vince Fedorowich, Arizona Sundogs CHL Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year – Romeo Vivit, Rapid City Rush